The coming week, with events that get to your heart through your stomach.
Tuesday, October 20
Fertility, Fertilizers and Food: In Defense of Haber, the fourth lecture in the UW Agroecology's Fall series "What to Eat: A Seven Discourse Meal," is presented by Prof. Phillip Barak. UW Soils Building, Room 270, 1525 Observatory Dr., 4 p.m., free.
Wednesday, October 21
Discover the lesser known benefits of beets, the vegetable every child fears, at the latest Cheese Experience at Fromagination with a traditional fondue lunch. Starting up again after taking a break over the summer, this regular Wednesday lunch includes a Prix Fixe menu featuring Roth Käse cheese and all the true Swiss fondue accoutrements. Seatings at 11 a.m. & 1 p.m., $15. Can't make lunch? The Capitol Square shop's communal table will be set again for dinner. This time it's an elegant English meal featuring consommé with cheddar biscuits, Cheshire leek pie, rowan berry sorbet, filet of beef with stichelton sauce, roasted root vegetables and stilton port. Seating at 7 p.m., $95, limited to 12 people, advance reservations required. Fromagination, 12 S. Carroll St. Call 255-2430 for reservations.
The Sustainable Seafood class will teach you everything you need to know about buying and cooking products of the ocean. Instructor Scott Wittkopf will share his great passion over a three-course meal based on local supplies of sustainable seafood. (Say that 10 times fast.) Whole Foods Market, 3313 University Ave., 6-8 p.m., $25. Register at 233-9566.
Friday, October 23
The Madison Food & Wine Showkicks off today and will consume the whole weekend, with over 150 exhibitors, gourmet food and cooking seminars, and a chef competition. Exhibition Hall, Alliant Energy Center, 1919 Alliant Energy Way, 5-9 p.m. on Friday, noon-7 p.m. on Saturday, and noon-4 p.m. on Sunday, $42/day and $70/weekend (or $37/day and $60/weekend in advance). Call 270-3632 for more info.
Saturday, October 24
The time has come for one of fall's true treasures: the lutefisk dinner. Don't like lutefisk? Dump lots of butter on it and you may. Really don't like lutefisk? Scrumptious meatballs save the day. Still not loving it? The menu at the Idun Lodge of the Sons of Norway Lutefisk & Meatball Dinner also include potatoes, rutabagas, lefse, sweet soup, and more. Idun Lodge, Sons of Norway, 2262 Winnebago St., 11 a.m.-6 pm, $16 and $7 for kids under 12. Call 249-6329 for more info.
Or, head to the Monona Grove Business Men's Association Chili Cook-off , a charity fund-raiser. In addition to chili samples for 50 cents, there will be beer, brats, a bake sale, and live music by Chameleon. AmericInn-Monona, 101 W. Broadway, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.. Call 222-8601 for more info.
Sunday, October 25
Two excellent local farmers' markets close out their outdoor season today. The Northside Farmers' Market offers an onsite breakfast and artisan's row. Northside TownCenter parking lot at N. Sherman Ave. and Northport Dr., 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The Monona Farmers' Market also ends today, with a creepy, crawly Halloween farewell with caramel apple slices, gourd painting, and trick or treating. Ahuska Park, E Broadway, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
